There is a green hill far away

Author: Cecil Frances Alexander Metre: CM (see more)

There is a green hill far away

This is a hymn from a ‘born teacher’: a narrative followed by theological explanation and ending with a gentle admonition. It first appeared in Hymns for Little Children (1848) written by Cecil Frances Alexander (d.1895) to teach the meaning of the Apostles’ Creed. Here, ‘suffered under Pontius Pilate’, is one of many hymns written in response to the remark of one of her godsons that he couldn’t understand the Catechism. She wrote over 200 hymns, characterised by their ability to ‘make theology picturesque’ (see also 137, 315, 509, 639); she also wrote poems (one of which Tennyson remarked he wished he had written himself), many of which were biblically-based but could be quite polemical, including her response to Gladstone’s disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1871. Socially conscious, Alexander established a school for the deaf and a girls’ friendly society. She was married to the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. William Horsley (d.1858) was one of many Victorian church musicians and composers associated with refuges for orphans, who saw music and religion as particularly suited to their charges. He was also much involved in secular music-making and is considered the leading glee (unaccompanied part songs for male voices) composer of all time.

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Horsley

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Themes

Bible References

Matthew 27:33-35
Mark 10:38
Mark 15:21-39
Luke 23:33-48
John 13:1b
John 14:12
John 19:17-30
1 Corinthians 6:20a
1 Corinthians 15:3
Ephesians 5:2
Hebrews 10:19-20
Hebrews 13:12-13
1 Peter 1:19
1 Peter 2:23-24
1 John 4:11, 19
1 John 4:11, 19
Revelation 1:18

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